How Much Does Web Design Cost?

A website is often a customer’s first impression of a business. A study by Stanford discovered that 75 percent of people base the credibility of a business on how its website looks.

If a website is poorly designed or does not function correctly, consumers will think negatively of that brand and move onto the competitor whose website can fill their needs. It was reported that 38 percent of users will leave a website if the design is sloppy and unattractive.

Having a professional website design is a necessary investment for all businesses. A website is the central hub of all company marketing and sales efforts. and acts as the face of a brand online. According to Blue Corona, 73 percent of companies invest in design to differentiate their brand from the competition.

What Is the Cost of Quality Website Design?

In general, businesses can expect to spend an upfront cost of $5,000 to $15,000 and ongoing fees ranging from $100 to $1,000 a month. The price of website design is calculated by considering factors such as:

• The website design company completing the work
• The scope of the project
• The project timeline
• How many individuals are required to launch the website

What Is Included in a Website Design Pricing?

A new website or revamped design is not a simple project. It takes a great deal of time to plan, develop, and launch a website. As a result, website design quotes comprise the following factors.

Visual Appearance and User Experience

On the surface, a design may seem as though it only deals with the visual components of a site. In reality, all website design elements work together to create a seamless user experience for website visitors.

To accomplish this, website designers must take time to strategize and plan out each aspect of the website including:

• Color schemes
• Media/photos
• Buttons and links
• Animations
• Forms
• Custom coded elements
• Written content

This process often starts with a wireframe that represents the bare-bones structure of the website. From there, the branding and design can begin.

Content

While a picture can say 1,000 words, a website is useless without expertly written content. A website design company can either write the website content or use content supplied by the client.

If the agency is writing and optimizing content for the new website, expect this service to be part of the total price.

Search Engine Optimization

A credible website design company will ensure that a company’s website is built and optimized for search engines upon launching. This includes optimizing elements such a the code, content, metadata, imagery, and files to be properly crawled by search engine bots.

Technical Components

From security services to hosting, website design agencies will include all technical aspects of building a website in the final quote.

This can include everything from building out databases to configuring plugins and custom-coded elements, depending on the complexity of the website.

Hours Worked

To confirm that the project stays within the agreed upon scope, most web design companies track the hours of their employees for billing purposes.

Three Key Reasons to Hire a Web Design Expert, Company, or Agency

Many businesses contemplate taking the DIY route when it comes to building a website, especially if they are conscious of their budget. However, these DIY website programs require a significant amount of manual work and lack the critical benefits a web design company provides, as highlighted here.

1. Experience

Website design companies employ individuals with years of direct experience in their trade, including website development, design, search engine optimization (SEO), copywriting, and project management.

These experts work together to build the ideal website for a company. An online website builder, on the other hand, gives the user drag-and-drop tools and tech support, but not years of knowledge and hands-on training.

2. Efficiency

Typically, building and launching a website can take from two weeks to several months depending on the agency’s project load. Although this may seem like a long time, this process is more efficient and streamlined than tasking one internal employee with building the entire website.

3. Ongoing Support

Publishing a new website isn’t the final step. Now businesses have to constantly update, monitor, and improve their website based on company and marketing goals. From data security to marketing initiatives, a website needs to be updated regularly.

While the company’s internal staff can accomplish most updates, other improvements are too technical or require coding expertise. Web design companies will offer ongoing technical and website support as part of their services.

What to Look for When Hiring a Web Design Company

Similar to car shopping, it is important to review multiple website design companies and receive quotes from each before signing a contract. In meeting with these companies, potential clients will be able to determine if their company will partner well with the design agency, and if the agency is truly capable of completing the website project at hand.

When looking to hire a website design company, consider the following.

Website Design Portfolio

Does the agency provide potential customers with a robust portfolio of completed website design projects to review, along with links to each? Examining an agency’s previous work is an excellent way to understand its design and development style and also get an understanding of its capabilities.

Companies searching for agencies that can accommodate a complex and technical website development project should request examples of completed work similar to the requirements of their project. Doing so will also provide insight into the agency’s level of experience.

Client Recommendations and Reviews

To understand how a web design company treats its clients, look at online reviews, and request recommendations from previous and current clients. These responses will shed light on the agency’s client relations and internal processes.

Transparent Package Prices and Web Design Processes

Never sign a web design contract before reviewing the company’s prices and processes.

Ask for a breakdown of the total cost. Does it include technical necessities such as a hosting fee, domain name, and website security? Is it a one-time fee? Monthly? Always have a full understanding of the payment plan and per-service pricing before entering into a web design contract.

Also, the website design agency should be transparent about each step of the process. After signing on the dotted line, companies should know exactly when to receive certain deliverables and what is expected of them as well. Dealing with a web design company that does not provide insight into its process is a red flag.

Website Updates

Once the website is completed and live, who is responsible for updates? Are the clients able to make content, imagery, and heading updates on their own, or do they need to contact the agency to complete these?

Understanding who “owns” the website updates is a critical piece of knowledge for both parties. If companies must rely on a busy web design agency to make website changes or updates, ask what the average turnaround is for such a service.

Additional Marketing Services

While some web design companies will build a website with future marketing goals in mind, they may not be able to assist with other promotional avenues such as email marketing, SEO, or pay-per-click (PPC).

When reviewing potential web design agencies, consider those who offer multiple integrated services for a cost-effective and efficient online marketing strategy.

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